Shabbos 86a

שבת פ״ו ע״א

Shabbat 86a

Learn Shabbos 86a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

End of the כלאים garden-bed discussion; a new משנה of laws hinted from פסוקים, focusing on third-day discharge of שכבת זרע and how the views on it connect to the separation before מתן תורה.

Overview

This amud opens by finishing a discussion about planting different species (כלאים) in a garden bed. רב אשי explains that the ברייתא's words 'like a square board' do not limit the rule. They teach an extra leniency for a ראש תור, a triangular point sticking out of the bed. A new משנה then lists four laws, each hinted from a פסוק: a woman who discharges שכבת זרע on the third day is טמאה, a מילה may be washed on the third day even on שבת, a red strip is tied to the שעיר המשתלח, and סיכה counts like שתיה on יום הכפורים. The גמרא notes that the first law does not match רבי אלעזר בן עזריה while the מילה law does, and gives two ways to explain this. A ברייתא then brings three views on third-day discharge: רבי אלעזר בן עזריה (טהורה), רבי ישמעאל (count by days), and רבי עקיבא (always five עונות). The גמרא ties each view to the separation before מתן תורה. רבי עקיבא follows רבי יוסי because משה came down and gave the command at dawn, which is proven from פסוקים. Finally, the גמרא explains why a dawn command was needed: daytime relations are permitted in a dark room.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ChallengeThe ברייתא says the rules apply only to a square bed
2. ResolutionThe square shape adds a leniency for a protruding corner
3. StatementA woman who discharges semen on the third day is impure
4. StatementWashing a circumcision on the third day, even on שבת
5. StatementA red strip tied on the scapegoat
6. StatementSmearing oil counts like drinking on יום הכפורים
7. ChallengeThe two clauses seem to follow different תנאים
8. ResolutionTwo ways to explain the משנה
9. Statementרבי אלעזר בן עזריה: discharge on the third day is pure
10. Statementרבי ישמעאל: four, five, or six periods
11. Statementרבי עקיבא: always exactly five periods
12. ChallengeWhom does רבי עקיבא follow about the separation at סיני?
13. Resolutionרבי עקיבא follows רבי יוסי because משה came down early in the morning
14. ProofThe פסוקים prove משה went up and came down early
15. ChallengeWhy command separation in the morning if relations do not happen by day?
16. ResolutionDaytime relations are permitted in darkness, so the morning command mattered